Method of balancing and apparatus therefor



June 1930- -'r. c. VAN DEGRIFT 1,

METHOD OF BALANCING. AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Filed Aug. 13, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 6R0: mu

I j at; z

June 3, 1930. T. c. VAN DEGRIFT METHOD OI BALANCING AND APPARATUS THEREFOR 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 13

m I 1 v5 3 UNITED. STATES PATEN F? f F I I I 'rnomss c. vsn nnenp r; or nni'norr, incnrqnn, nssrenon To GENERAL morons snnncn conronarron, onnnraoir, M c-arena,- n coaroaa'rrou or nnnnwnaa irnraon or psnnucme 41m nrrann'rus mama App lioati on 'filed August 18, 1927. serial mi. aiasia This invention is an i'mprov'ement on the ance thus deterinined,the endsof the shaft construction described and claimed in the are bored along the axis and all subsequent prlor appl1cat1on of Caleb E. Summers, Se machining operations, such as the turning of r al No. 188,384, filed May 21, 1927. The inpins and -'ournals, is performed as usual v 5 ventl'on relates to an attachment for use with. while the ,s afg is' held upon this line of cenbalancing machines of various types, but it. is ters. By thus cientifically selecting the cenpart cu'larly designed for use. with. the balter line, it is found'that in more than half of ancin'g machine descrl ed and claimed in 00- the cases the shaft, when completely.ma-

pending application, Serial No. 127,712, filed c hined and again tested for balance, will give i 6 August 6th,1926 by Caleb E. summ e'rs and an-in dication ofbalance'well "within the almyself 4 lowab'le manufacturing limits. These shafts t has heretofore been common practice to consequently require" no subsequent removal establish the center lines of rotating parts of metal and retestin to effect balance. It such as crankshafts, armatures, andthe like, has also been found t at where the finished 1 hereinafter referred to generally as 'Fthe shafts do show out. of balance, the amount of shaft, bymethods based merely on surface out of balance is very small and but little mas symmetry.v The axis thus defined is uite chining is necessary to correct them. Thus, dilferent from the axis with respect to w ich by scientifically selecting the center line, not the shaft'is in rotatingbalance, (hereinafter only is-a large percentage of the shafts found 20 referred to as the axisof rotating balance to be in balanced condition after the machin- 7 owing to variations in density throughout ing operations have been completed, but with the mass. Consequently, in the subsequent the others only slight correction'is required balancing of the shaft, it was necessary to reto attain balance: This is in contrast to the move considerable quantities of metal in old methods in which, with the arbitrarily 25 order to make the axis of rotating balance selected line of centers, practically all of the .7

coincide with the line of centers arbitrarily shafts are found to be out'of balance by varyestablished by considerations of surface syming amounts and, in most cases, the amount of metry. r unbalance. is so large as to require several According to the Summers application, a successive corrections and tests for balance. 30 fixture is provided to receive the roughly The older method was also entirely deforged shaft just after the center line has pendent onthe accuracy of thedies used in been'thus-arbitrarily established so that'the the forging operation. Should the dies be forgings can be tested now and then for balfaulty and lacking in symmetry, all of the ance and dies corrected if need be to insure shafts made with those dies would be out of 35 accuracy in thefor 'ngs so that the amount. balance.- During use, the dies deteriorate and A of metal required-to eremovedinsubsequent the out of balance of the shafts becomes balancin will/be reduced to a minimum. eater. With my improved process, the According to my invention, the rou h forg- 'es are no longer cont-rolling on the matter ing is centered on the axis of rotating bal- ;-of balance for a slight shift in the center line, to ance instead of. along anaxisdetermined by. as determined by the balancing operation, surface symmetry. To determine the locawill effect such a redistribution .0 masses tionof the-axis of rotating balance the for with respect to the line that inaccuracies in ingor otherwise roughly shaped mass is sa the die are taken care of. i jj'kected to a prelimina balancing operation. In some cases I have found it convenient ,;.0 accomplish this, the forging is adjustabl to equlyi the balancing machine with means mounted n-iafixture, placed iii a balancing for dril ing or otherwise marking the center [in chine and tested. for'balance. The shaft; line as determined in the" balancing machine. {fsatjlien adjusted in the fixture and tested This is particularly ,easily'accomplished in ff 'agaiii,- -anidlthi 's repeated until a position of a balancm'gmachine of the tfiype described in a balance is .arriyed at Withthe axis of balprior application of Caleb Summers and v spindles; one of whichma myself, Serial No. 127,712, previously referred to. This machine is equipped withan apparatus for rigidly locking the shaft or, in this case, the fixture in which the shaft is held, in position. While thus rigidlyheld,

it is possible to drill the usual conical bores in. the ends of the shaft by" means of drill be projected downwardly. thru hollow s aftingconstituting the rotating means into engagement withthe upper end of t/heshaft, and the other of which may be extended upwardly from the base of the machine on a line with the first tion of a balancing machine showing my into engagementwith the lower endof the shaft.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side eleva improved fixture in place and holding a shaft to be centered.

Figure 2 is a section on-line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic section on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure/1 is a section on line ofFigure 1.

machine with my fixture in place, this machine having incorporated in it means for drilling the centers inthe ends of the shaft. Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical section taken on'substantially line 6-*6 of Figure 5. My balancing machine consists of a base 10 supporting a standard 12 carrying the rotatihg and indicating mechanlsm. The rotatin mechanism consists of suitable gearing oreifecting rotation of'flexibleshaft --14 carrying at its lower end coupling 16 for gripping the end of the shaft to be tested;

The machine is equipped with indicating devices 18, one adjacent the top and one adja'} cent the bottom! of the shaft, these indicating devices'including roller carrying levers 20; 22 and 24 shown diagrammatically in Figure 3, the rollers engaging journals on the h the amountand location J clearly described in the aforesaid applica- 16, is'rotated, first with one and free and part to be tested. The movement of the levers 24 produced by eccentric motion'of the ends of the part under test causes indications to be given by the indicating devices. 18 of of unbalance as tion, No.-127,712.

. In the ordinary scribed in. the said application, the shaft is directly connected to the coupling member the other end held by locking thelever carrying rollers 20,22, 24 at that end in, en-

gagement with the corresponding journal.

An indicator 18 gives the amount and location of the unbalance atthe free end of the shaft; The shaft is then rotated with the first-named end locked and the second-name end free and a' corresponding reading i taken. The shaft is'then removed from the anced and provided with fried by the the form of ment with the shaft 30 by means of spring.

nut 56 and bolt 58. Figure 5 is a side elevation of a balancing use of'tlie, machine deq .ance as to require very -l3l'11S means,

machine and corrected for balance. If notthen in balance, the operation is repeated.

According to my invention, the shaft 30 from the forging dies is placed in holder 28, the holder having first been accnrately balaccurately machined top and bottom journals 26 for en tom sets of rollers, 20,22 and 24.

in; the rough condition irrwhich it is received gagement with the respective top and bot- In Figure 2 I have shown the devices employed to secure the shaft in the holder. One of these devices is provided at .each end of the holder and each consists of three radially adjustable members, 38, 40 and 42, the

first two being in the form of set screws cara plunger 44: forced into engage- 46, the outer end of which engages an adjustable plug 48 threaded in a-boss 0 car- ,ried by a swinging collar'52 pivota y connected to the frame 32 atj54 and having its free end secured to the frame by means of In operation, the shaft, or articles swinging the collars 52 the shaft and position. I The holder-with the shaft therein is then mounted in the balancing machine, the upper end being supported by coupling member 16. The holder and contained shaft to one side, insertin securing the collars'in close 195 frame 28 and the last being in to be balanced, is secured in the holder by,

are then tested for balance in the usual mandescribedfand the indiner, as previously balance at the topand cations of out of bottom noted. Thereupon and 40 .at the top "and bottom of the shaft the set screws 38 are adjusted to effect displacement of the I shaft so as to cause it to assumea position f"balan'c'e. The holder and shaft are-thereupon again rotated and shouldthe indicators give an indication of balance, the holder is removed from the machine and the ends ofthe shaft are (1 "Bed along an axis concentric with the axis of the journals of the holder.

The center line thus accurately established In p'racticeI have found it best tb square to substantially coin- I balanced shafts is radically reoif'theends of the shaft before balancing but this isnot absolutely essential.

The modification shown in Figures 5 and 6 diifers from that shown in the preceding figures only. in that the drilling apparatus g In this form of my spindle 60 to being engaged by respective sets of rollers 20, 22 and 24, as shown diagrammatically in Fi ure 3. Asficlearly shown and described In the prior application, N o. 127 ,712, these rollers are capable "of being rigidly locked in engagement with the journals'34 and 36.

invention, the drive shaft 14 comprises,

the upper end of which is secured gear 62 driven by any suitable means. To the lower end of the spindle 60 is secured.

, an universal joint 64, the lower member of 66; to the lower end of.

- mg sleeve and a the hollow which is secured to a second hollow spindle second universal joint 68. The'lower end of the universal joint 68 carries a gripping collar 70 adaptedto engage the upper end 72 of the journal extending from the upper end of the frame 32. Through the allned shafts anduniversals extend bearing members 78 for drill spindle 80. Means is. provided for .raisi g and lowering the spindle, this means consisting of a rack 100 provided on an extensionof the spindle bearpinion 102 operated by handle 104. Normally, members 78 and 80 fit loosely within the portions of the drive shaft 14 inwhich the universal joints arein- -corporated so that the spindle and its hearing will not interfere with the free rotation of the frame. Upon rotation of handle 104 spindle is projected downwardly, the enlarged portion 79 of bearing 78 snugly fitting guide surface 81 formed in the u per part of, frame 32. The spindle 80 is drlven by'means of electric motor 82 mounted on the :top of the machine.

" 89. of bearing 88 ation of removing the The base of the machine similarly supports an electric motor 84 for driving drill :spindle 86 journalled in bearings 88 normally loosely fitting within at the bottom of the andits bearing are the journal 90- formed likewise provided with elevating means in theform of rack 92 and by handle ,96 by means of which spindle 86 inay be projected -,u wardly into engagement. with the shaft. -When in this position the enlarged; portion guide cylinder 91 hblder 32. v 1 With this form of the apparatu the operframe and shaft from formed at the bottom of themachine for drilling the centers is eliminated.

In the interests of simplicity of disclosure,

'. aneifort has been shaft and frame,

which is secured a frame'32. The spindle d .is snugly; received within a frame,- spacedmeans on the fr ceiving, parts of the shaft to of details of the balancing machinecto which .my invention is shownia plied. However, for a complete understandin of themechanism indicating the out of balanceof the holder and shaft and for locking the Holder in position, reference must be had to the said 'priofapplication; Serial No. 127,7122

Icla1m:'

1. The method of locating the axis of r0- tating balance of a shaft which consists in mounting the shaft in a frame, rotating the observing thev condition of balance of the shaft and, if found out of balance, shifting the shaft in the frame with rcates balance, and marking the ends of the shaft at the points thereof which register with the axis of rotation.

2. A balancing machine for testing the work for rotating balance, a

made to eliminatethe mass resipect to the axisof rotation until the shaft as shown in F igure"5, a hollow in including means support for holding the work during the testing operation,

position ofbalance. I 2. 3. In the combination as defined in claim ,7 .marking.the axis of balance.

4. .In the combination as defined in claim 2, means for locking the sup ort imbalanced position, L the shaft, when-so held, in line with the axis of rotation. j

5. In 'the combination as definedin claim 2, said balancing machine comprising'spaced indicating devices and said support being provided with spaced trio with the axis for engagement with said indicating devices. 6. Y balancing machine including means for. testing the shaft for rotating balance, a balanced support for holding the shaft dming the testing operation, means for adjusting the shaft in the support to cause it toassume a position of balance, said support being apertured in line means guided in said centers in the shaft. j 7. A balancing machine comprising means fcr rotating the shaft to bebalanced and inaperturesfor marking tating means, said frame being provided with adjustable means for shifting the shaft to of balance and means -concentric."with position.

for center boring the shaft when in balanced 8. A balancing machine fixture comprising one of saidmeans including adjustable de vices adapte to shift the transverse of its axis. I 4

9. A balancing machine fixture comprising a frame, spaced-means on the frame for rebe'a-ring portions concenof balance of the support 1catingmeans,.;a frame suported by saidnro ame for rebe balanced,.

shaft'in a'directionand means for adjusting the work in-the support to cause it to assume a .Tmeans associated with said ,support for and "means for mar ,'ng the ends of I 110 with the axis of rotation and j ceiving parts of the shaft to be'balanced, each I of said means comprlsing adjustable stops adapted to permit bodily shifting of the s a 5 10. A balancin machine fixture compris ing a frame havmg a-drive shaftzengaginigl portion at one end and longitudin'ally space adjustable means on the frame arranged to receive axiall y s acedportions of the shaft to be tested an adapted to permit bodily shifting of the shaft in the frame.

11. A balancing machine fixture as defined in claim 10 having aplurality of annular bearing surfaces one adjacent each end for cooperation with portions of the testing machine.

' .12. The method of locating the axis of wtating balance of a shaft which consists in mounting the shaft in a frame, and rotatin the shaft and frame with "one end held an the other end free, observing the condition of balance of the shaft at the free end thereof and if found out of balance, rotating the shaft with the first named end free and the other end held, shifting the shaft inthe frame with respect to the axis of rotation until it isin rotating balance, and marking the ends of the shaft to indicate the points thereof which re ister with the axis of rotation.

39 In testimony whereof I aflix my signature; THOMAS C. VAN DEGBIFT. 

